Santiago, popularly known among the locals as Santiago de los Caballeros is located at the heart of the Cibao Valley, in central Dominican Republic and is considered to be the second largest country of the Republic. Due in large parts to its location on the island, tropical climate prevails in the city for most parts of the year. To put it into context, average temperatures throughout the year hover around the 25 degree Celsius or 77 degree Fahrenheit, with days that offer sunlight without the heat making the weather intolerable . This is why the long, sunny days on the tropical island have been proclaimed as the ‘endless summer’.
The winter season falls between November and April and is characterized by low humidity and cool evenings. Particularly in the coastal regions of the city’s outskirts, day temperatures have a ceiling of approximately 28 degrees Celsius while the mercury falls considerably to hover around the 20 degrees Celsius mark at night . Moving towards the interior regions of Santiago results in a further reduction in temperatures, especially for areas near mountain ranges. On some of the higher peaks located there, it is customary for sub-zero temperatures to be recorded. But, interestingly enough, at any point during the year, it is the Cordillera Central Mountains and the adjoining regions that are found to be the coolest in the city, where average temperatures remain steady at around 16 degrees throughout .
During the summer season, which typically ranges between May to October, it is not the temperature itself, but rather the very high levels of humidity that create the sense that Santiago is hotter than it actually is. The highest temperature are between 31 degrees Celsius during the day, but this mercifully drops to 22 degrees at night .
The diverse terrain that divides the Dominican Republic across the four direction points is also what plays a major role in influencing weather patterns. So while the central areas of Santiago remain cooler, it is the dry and rugged terrain of the south-west desert regions where the harsh summer heat can be experienced. On the other end, Santiago attracts the maximum rainfall which is approximately 170 millimeters between April and June, the marked rainy season of the year . The barren, arid deserts of the south mentioned above also experience rain, though in isolation, where rains are more like brief, torrential downpours flooding the desert.
The real danger posed by the heavy rainfalls is that the subsequent pressure buildup in the Caribbean Sea results in massive hurricanes that have damaged considerable properties and other valuables . The danger is greater because Santiago is located in the middle of what geologic experts have labelled the ‘Hurricane belt”. What experts have marked as the hurricane season in Santiago, is between June to the end of November, but August and September are not considered safe months either . This is the time of the year when water-related sports and expeditions are discouraged due to safety concerns. However, compared to some of the other regions located on or within the Belt, Santiago occupies a relatively safer and more secure place, because of its high altitude level, which has been estimated at around 182 meters above sea level, enclosed within the Cibao Valley.
As mentioned earlier, temperatures begin dropping as one moves from the outer regions on the beaches towards the central regions. At and even near the Cordillera Central Mountains is where some of the ‘coldest’ areas are found, where temperatures even drop below the freezing point . However, the charm of the endless summer that the city offers has come under attack due to increased global warming. This has caused the relatively stable climate of Santiago to undergo dramatic fluctuations in terms of temperatures, humidity and even the speed of winds in recent years.
References
Cane, M. (2007). The effects of weather in Santiago, Dominican Republic, during the winters. International Journal of Climatology, 18-24.
Monsalves-Gavilán, P. (2013). Climate change and its effects on urban spaces in the Caribbean: A summary of research carried out in the period 2000-2012. Atmosphera, 547–566.
Rutllant, J. (2013). Synoptic Aspects of the Central Santiago: The Rainfall Variability Associated with the Southern Oscillation. International Journal of Climatology, 63–76.
Varela-Lopes, G. E. (2014). Precipitation Patterns in Cape Verde Islands: Santiago Island Case Study. Scientific Research, 854-865.
